Development and landscaping design standards

• A. Purpose. The purpose of this section is to promote effective site planning, design and landscaping so as to promote a high quality of development in the city:
  • 1. Improve the environment by providing open space, street trees and landscaping;
  • 2. Preserve the character and scale of neighborhoods by requiring a development to be compatible with the existing character of the area;
  • 3. Mitigate environmental, visual and other impacts by requiring adequate buffering;
  • 4. Promote safe and efficient pedestrian, bicycle and traffic circulation;
  • 5. Minimize noise, dust, pollution and glare that may be generated by a development;
  • 6. Provide for cooling of air and land through shading in order to offset radiational heating;
  • 7. Mitigate impacts from storm water runoff and surface water contamination and protect water quality;
  • 8. Maintain ground water, provide for erosion and flood control and for absorption of pollutants.
• B. Infill Development. A non-residential development on a parcel having less than two hundred (200) feet of frontage shall be considered an infill development. The design of said development shall take into consideration the front yard setbacks and heights of buildings on abutting properties.
• C. Landscape Standards.
  • 1. General Requirements.
    • a. Landscaping shall be provided as part of a development in order to preserve and enhance the identity of a development.
    • b. A minimum of fifteen (15) percent of a development's parcel shall be landscaped.
    • c. *Once a project complies with the minimum parking standards, then priority shall be given to meeting the landscaping standards above additional parking.
  • 2. Site Activities.
    • a. Topsoil Preservation:
      • i. To the extent practicable, the areas of a parcel to be disturbed shall be minimized.
      • ii. Disturbed areas shall be stabilized in a timely manner by seeding or planting landscaping materials.
      • iii. Topsoil moved during site work shall be stockpiled on site in designated areas that are stabilized to prevent erosion and reused in accordance with a landscape plan.
    • b. Removal of Debris. Organic material (including roots, stumps, brush, cleared or grubbed materials), rubbish and debris shall be disposed of off site in a timely manner. The reuse of organic materials may be allowed if said materials will not adversely affect plantings, natural areas or buildings.
    • c. Protection of Existing Plantings. Maximum effort shall be made to preserve existing vegetation on site (especially specimen trees).
      • i. If specimen trees are removed, they shall be replaced in kind in accordance with a landscape plan.
      • ii. No materials or temporary soil deposits shall be placed within the drip line of trees being retained.
      • iii. A physical barrier shall be installed around each plant or group of plants that are to remain. Said barrier shall be a minimum of four feet high, maintained until construction is completed and shall not be supported by the plants they are protecting.
    • d. Slopes. All cuts and fills, terraces and ROW embankments with slopes greater than 1:3 shall be landscaped so as to prevent erosion.
    • e. Additional Landscaping. All areas of the site not occupied by buildings or improvements shall be landscaped in accordance with an approved landscape plan.
  • 3. General Planting Requirements.
    • a. Only nursery-grown or suitable existing vegetation shall be used.
    • b. Vegetation shall be planted according to established horticultural standards.
    • c. Vegetation shall be hardy for climatic zones 6/7 and appropriate in terms of function and size.
    • d. Plant species which are native and require minimal watering and fertilization are recommended.
  • 4. Trees.
    • a. Species of trees may vary depending on overall effect desired as shown on a landscape plan.
    • b. One street tree shall be planted for every thirty-five (35) feet of frontage. Generally, street trees shall be of the same species except to achieve special effects. Trees may be spaced along the street at every thirty-five (35) feet at the rear of sidewalk or may be grouped in accordance with a landscape plan.
    • c. With the exception of ornamental trees, deciduous trees shall have at least a two and one-half-inch caliper at planting and a caliper of at least twelve (12) inches when fully mature.
    • d. Size of evergreens and shrubs may vary depending on setting and type of plant material.
  • 5. Maintenance.
    • a. The applicant shall be responsible for maintaining landscaped areas in a neat and attractive manner. Said areas shall be kept free of all debris, rubbish, weeds and tall grass.
    • b. The applicant shall be responsible for watering plantings on a regular basis. (The use of underground sprinkler or drip irrigation systems for landscaped areas is encouraged.)
    • c. The applicant shall remove and replace all dead or diseased plantings annually.
  • 6. Buffer Strips.
    • a. All developments shall provide an approved year-round buffer a minimum of eight feet in height, consisting of fencing, vegetation, berms, rocks, boulders, mounds or combinations thereof, to:
      • i. Shield abutting properties from negative impacts from a development;
      • ii. Shield a development from negative impacts from abutting properties;
      • iii. Minimize the impacts from storm water runoff and flooding.
    • b. Buffer Area Dimensions.
      • i. A minimum ten (10) feet wide landscaped strip shall be provided along property lines parallel to a street where parking or circulation areas abuts said street.
      • ii. A minimum five feet landscape strip shall be provided along side and rear property lines where parking and circulation areas are adjacent to abutting properties.
      • iii. Where a more intensive use abuts a less intensive use, a 25-foot wide buffer strip may be required. The width of said strip to be determined by the design and density of the buffer proposed.
    • c. Plantings shall provide maximum protection to abutting properties and avoid damage to existing plant materials. Earthen berms may be used in the buffer design, provided side slopes are adequately stabilized. Said berms may be used to calculate effective buffer height.
    • d. Plant materials shall be sized and planted so as to achieve a year-round effective buffer height of at least eight feet within three growing seasons.
    • e. Buildings, structures, parking or the storage of materials shall not be allowed within a buffer area.
  • 7. Parking Area Landscaping Requirements.
    • a. In addition to any required buffer strip, a minimum of ten (10) square feet of landscaped area shall be provided within a parking area for each parking space in said area.
    • b. A minimum of twenty (20) percent of a parking area shall be shaded by deciduous trees that shall have a crown (canopy) of thirty (30) feet at maturity. Said trees shall be surrounded by at least one hundred (100) square feet of unpaved area to provide for growth and protection from vehicles.
    • c. Each row of parking spaces shall be terminated by a landscaped island not less than six feet wide and twelve (12) feet long.
    • d. A continuous landscaped island not less than eight feet wide shall be provided between every four rows of parking spaces.
    • e. Landscaped areas shall be provided at appropriate locations in order to prevent long, uninterrupted rows of parking.
    • f. Landscaped islands shall be protected from encroachment by motor vehicles by a continuous raised curb. (Vehicles shall be presumed to have an overhang of three and one-half feet.) Pedestrian paths may be incorporated within the landscaped islands provided a minimum dimension of four feet, exclusive of paved areas, is maintained.

(Ord. 2012-23, § 1, 9/24/2012)